MEASURES have been put in place to protect a war memorial and historically significant Herefordshire tree from vandalism after bark was stripped from its trunk.
Protection fencing around the Verdun Oak Tree at the Grange in Leominster.
An investigation has been carried out by a tree consultant after concerns were raised over the health of Leominster's Verdun Oak at The Grange.
The tree is one of ten known to remain in the country, raised from an acorn brought from Verdun in France during World War One and planted in 1921.
The plaque on the Verdun Oak Tree at The Grange in Leominster.
The acorns were collected from the battlefield and sent to England to be planted as war memorials.
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Bark damage has been found to opposite sides of the tree's trunk, a meeting of Leominster Town Council's Environment and Services committee heard earlier this month.
Expert Brendan Tuer, who compiled a report for councillors, said the damage appeared to have occurred suddenly, with "very large" areas of bark dying back in a short period of time.
The damage, he said, is of a type usually associated with vandalism, while the size of the wounds suggest impact damage caused by a vehicle or heavy plant.
Damaged bark on the trunk of the Verdun Oak Tree at The Grange in Leominster.
"The fact that the damage occurs on opposite sides of the main stem suggests that this tree was specifically targeted and the damage was not incidental," Mr Tuer wrote in his report.
But, he said, it could have been caused by other means, such as the use of a cherry picker to attach lights, or by a large vehicle or equipment during a public event.
He recommended that barriers were put in place to prevent further damage to the tree, which will take "many years" to heal from the damage already present.
Measures have been put in place to protect the tree until a permanent barrier can be installed, the council was told.
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